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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 1 : The Call of Matthew

Text: Matthew 9:9-13
2 January 2022

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 2 January 2022

Text: Matthew 9:9-13
Subject: Following the Lord Jesus as His Disciples
Focus: The Call of Matthew

INTRODUCTION

1. The Synoptic Gospels

a) Matthew
b) Mark
c) Luke

2. Why were they called “Synoptic Gospels”

a) The word “synoptic”
i) Seeing together a common view of the Life of the Lord Jesus
ii) Presenting together the life of the Lord
b) These Gospels can be:
i) Studied together
ii) They can be compared meaningfully

3. Reading the Gospel of Matthew

a) The word “Gospel” has a few nuances
i) Good news
ii) A book about the Life and Teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ
b) Some reasons for reading the Gospel of Matthew
i) To learn about the Life of the Lord Jesus Christ
ii) To discover the Teachings of the Lord
iii) To appreciate the significance of how Christianity
became a world-wide Faith, from a humble origin
iv) To find a genuine and personal Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
and to develop it

4. Learning about the author of the Gospel of Matthew

a) Knowing the author helps us to understand his book
b) Matthew candidly wrote about himself briefly Matthew 9:9-13
i) His past
A tax collector
ii) His calling
“Follow Me”   Matthew 9:9a
iii) His response
“He arose and followed Him”   Matthew 9:9b

WHY IS THIS STORY IMPORTANT?

1. It is Illustrative

a) Of how a sinner cam be saved
b) Of how a sinner can be called
c) Of how a sinner can be wonderfully transformed

2. It is highly Instructive

a) Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ
b) Concerning what He came to do
c) Concerning how Matthew could be so wonderfully changed

3. It is Relevant

a) The Truth of how Salvation can change a person is important
b) Faith in the Lord Jesus can be very real and precious

RELEVANT HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
(1ST century)

1. Politics

a) Roman Empire under the Caesars
b) Rome ruled with an iron feast
i) Europe
ii) The Middle East
iii) Israel (our focus)
c) Kings (Herod) were appointed by the Roman Emperor

2. Religion

a) Many religions were tolerated by Rome
b) Judaism in Israel was also allowed

3. Religious Life as practised by Israel in the 1st Century

a) There was One Temple
b) There were many synagogues
c) There was a Religious Council
i) It was called the Sanhedrin Council
ii) There were 70 leaders who formed this Council
iii) It was headed by a High Priest
d) There were different Sects
i) Pharisees
ii) Sadducees
iii) Herodians
iv) Zealots
e) Some were:
i) Scribes
ii) Sometimes called “lawyers” (experts in the Law of Moses)
iii) Elders
iv) Rulers of synagogues
f) Religious View of Life (From the standpoint of the Pharisees)
i) They despised “tax collectors” Matthew 9:11a
ii) They were regarded as “sinners” Matthew 9:11b
iii) These were to be shunned

THE VERY DIFFERENT APPROACH TAKEN BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Matthew 9:9-13

1. He invites Sinners to Follow Him

2. He was like a Physician (spiritual) to the sick

3. He came with a heart full of mercy

4. He came to call sinners to repentance

CONCLUSION

1. Be interested to learn about the Lord Jesus

2. Be challenged to discover Faith in the Lord

3. Be open to Follow the Lord Jesus as a disciple